MY children, know Love is not Love alone, But in her name lie many names concealed: For she is Death, imperishable Force, Desire unmixed, wild Frenzy, Lamentation; In her are summed all impulses that drive To Violence, Energy, Tranquillity. Deep in each living breast the Goddess sinks, And all become her prey; the tribes that swim, The fourfoot tribes that pace upon the earth, Harbour her; and in birds her wing is sovereign, In beasts, in mortal men, in gods above. What god but wrestles with her and is thrown? If I may tell -- and truth is right to tell -- She rules the heart of Zeus without a spear, Without a sword. Truly the Cyprian Shatters all purposes of men and gods. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NOVEMBER, 1806 by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THRENODY by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH SATIRE: 5 by AULUS PERSIUS FLACCUS |